LITTLE BIT STRONGER | A COUNTRY ROMANCE

Chapter Thirty-Three

One month later...

After a grueling four-hour surgical shift, Kate showered in the employee lounge, changed into street clothes, and clocked out. Her arms felt like pudding from holding suction tools while the doctor worked.

She was determined to beat her man home.

Making her way around town, she drove to the butcher, stopped at the grocery store, and swung into the florist for a bouquet of wildflowers.

An hour after leaving the hospital, Kate turned on the long drive up to the farmhouse. Josh invited them to live with him one month after Brian was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to twelve years in prison.

The change of scene had done wonders for Caleb.

When Brian was arrested, her son began acting out, throwing tantrums, and generally expressing his valid emotions in the only way he felt he could.

Therapy had been necessary to make their way through the upheaval as best they could. Every day, things got better.

Josh was a huge part of the progress.

He insisted on dropping Caleb to school every morning and picked him up three afternoons a week. Krista took him home with her on the other two.

Every Saturday, Josh waited patiently for Caleb to put on his jeans and boots so they could do chores around the ranch together.

Well, Josh did chores while answering a hundred questions an hour from his curious little sidekick. A ranch offered an endless supply of things to keep a small child interested.

The ducks in the two ponds, the barn cat and her litter of kittens, the horses, the cows, and best of all...the tractors.

Watching the man she loved settle her traumatized son into his new life filled Kate with more joy than her heart could hold some days.

Josh usually stood in the bathroom door while she did her skin routine before bed.

The night before, he told her, "I only had sisters. It's crazy what Caleb thinks is cool. It's like being a kid again myself!"

"You're great with him," she said with a smile.

"He's so smart, Kate. I can't even believe it. He has most of the bird species memorized and told the vet I have the best cows in Oklahoma." Lifting his brow at her in the mirror, he assured her, "He is so right."

"Your modesty is one of your best traits."

"I'm so glad you see it, too."

Every single night, he waited for her to finish her regimens before walking the house one more time. He always brought them each a glass of cold water from downstairs.

Even when they didn't make love, he held her while they talked. He listened intently and asked questions. Most nights, they fell asleep talking.

He was the first man in her life to see every part of her and accept all of it unconditionally.

How she adored him.

Three years to the day that she first met Josh, Kate arranged for Krista to take Caleb for his first long weekend with their parents since their lives flipped upside down. Everyone was anxious to get back to normal.

No one as much as Kate.

Running upstairs, she quickly changed into a skirt, scooped sweater, and heels. Pulling her hair up, she applied a clear lip gloss and rushed to the first floor again.